The Cheatham County School District addresses the potential National School Walkout.

Cheatham County Director of Schools Dr. Cathy Beck has met with principals to discuss the planned 17-minute National School Walkout in response to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School tragedy in Florida.

The walkout is set to begin at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, March 14.

As we have previously communicated with the community, we are not encouraging participation in the walkout. However, we have created plans to manage it in case it happens.

We want to teach our students to make a difference and not just a statement. With that in mind, each school has a plan in place for the potential walkout.

Each school is making alternative plans for those students who would like to make a difference, such as spending 17 minutes writing letters of support to the students in Florida or to lawmakers asking for more resources for school safety, committing to 17 random acts of kindness, pledging to meet 17 new people in the school or making a school-wide mural to support anti-bullying behavior.

The only approved reason to leave a classroom is to participate in one of the optional predetermined activities specific to each school.

Students who do not wish to participate will continue in class as usual. If students walk out of school, it will be treated as a skip and consequences will be applied.

We encourage parents to discuss the guidelines about this potential event with their children before Wednesday and help them understand that all rules will be enforced.

We will not tolerate behavior that disrupts school operations or threatens the safety of our students and staff.

Cheatham County School District does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, race, color, creed, religion, national origin or handicap in the operation of its educational programs and activities including employment practices.